KR20010055422A - Method For Providing The Tele-Metering Service Using Always On/Dynamic ISDN(AO/DI) Internet Service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for providing an inspection agency service is provided to measure a meter of a user without an inspector by an agency server of an inspection agency company. CONSTITUTION: A service processing process is started(201), a connection setting, a member ID, a password of an AO/DI terminal, a computer, and a digital gauge in an inspection system are initialized by performing an inspection system initialization(202). An ISDN D-channel X.25 SVC is connected with an inspection agency server(203). A PPP connection procedure is performed for transmitting packet data(204). A network connection with the inspection agency server is confirmed(205), and if the network connection is abnormal, a service is terminated and maintenance of the inspection system(206) and a server connection procedure are performed. If the network connection is normal, a periodical timer is set in accordance with a gas inspection date, a water inspection date, an electricity inspection date(207), and an inspection request from the inspection agency server is waited(208). If the inspection request is received(209), the inspection system stores digital data measured by the digital gauge in a buffer memory(210), and the digital data are transmitted to the inspection agency server, and an inspection request from the inspection agency server is waited.

Description

Method for Providing The Tele-Metering Service Using Always On / Dynamic ISDN (AO / DI) Internet Service}

The present invention provides a method for providing a meter reading service that enables a provider of electricity, water, gas, etc. to measure a user's meter without a meter reader, and a computer readable recording medium recording a program for realizing the method. It is about.

Conventional remote metering methods are primarily based on subscribers based on mobile telephones, radio paging systems, paging systems, Public Switched Telephony Networks (PSTNs) (hereinafter simply referred to as "PSTNs"), leased lines or ISDN B-channels. Remote meter reading.

That is, the remote meter reading device located in the home sends a data to the meter reading server by calling a phone call through a PSTN regular phone, mobile phone or paging after reading the usage amount, or transmitting meter reading data through a dedicated line connected to the meter reading server. Was used.

Therefore, the existing method has a problem in that when the subscriber's phone is busy, the meter data cannot be transmitted to the meter reading server at a remote location, and in the case of using the leased line, a huge cost is required to establish the leased line up to the subscriber's home.

On the other hand, an inspection company that provides the existing remote metering service configures the remote metering network by using a private line, a public switched telephone network or a wireless calling equipment from the bed line system to a general home. Meter readers do not have to visit their homes or stores by reading usage data for water, gas, etc., attempting to make a regular telephone call, connecting to a bed line system, and sending meter reading data.

However, the existing remote meter reading service has the inconvenience of installing a dedicated line or wireless calling equipment up to the service subscriber location, there was a problem that can not transmit the meter reading data when the subscriber is busy using a general telephone network.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, by constantly connecting between the inspection line server of the inspection line company and the inspection system of the subscriber to the integrated information network D-channel to read the amount of electricity, water, gas, etc. used by the subscriber A method of providing a metering service in an always-on connection-type Internet access service providing system and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing the method for transmitting a server to a proxy server so that various usages can be measured without a meter reading. The purpose is to provide.

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a system for providing an always-connected Internet access service to which the present invention is applied.

2 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for providing a meter reading service in a meter reading system of a system for providing an internet connection service according to the present invention.

3 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for accessing a point-to-point protocol in a meter reading system of a system for providing an internet connection service according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for providing a bed line service in the bed line server of the always-connected Internet access service providing system according to the present invention.

5 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for accessing a point-to-point protocol in a cluster server in a system for providing an internet connection service according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: meter reading system

101: Always-On Internet Access Service Terminal

102 computer 103 digital meter

110: comprehensive information communication network switch 120: packet switch

130: black row server 140: Internet network

150: gas bill settlement system 160: power bill settlement system

170: water rate settlement system

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for providing a meter reading service, which is applied to a system for providing an always-connected Internet access service, comprising: establishing an exchange virtual line connection between a meter reading device and a meter reading server and performing a point-to-point protocol connection; Stage 1; A second step of transmitting meter reading data from the meter reading device to the meter reading server through a previously connected channel between the meter reading device and the meter reading server; And a third step of receiving the meter reading data by searching the subscriber profile of a service subscriber and transmitting the meter reading data to a corresponding billing system.

In addition, the present invention provides a first function for establishing a switched virtual line connection between the meter reading device and the metering row server and the point-to-point protocol connection in the always-on connection-type Internet access service providing system having a large capacity processor in order to provide a meter reading service ; A second function of transmitting meter reading data from the meter reading device to the meter reading server through a previously connected channel between the meter reading device and the meter reading server; And a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing a third function of receiving the meter reading data by retrieving a subscriber profile of a service subscriber and transmitting the meter reading data to a corresponding billing system. to provide.

According to the present invention, while the meter reading system of the service subscriber is always connected to the bay table server of the bay table company using the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) D-channel, the meter reading data is regularly transmitted to the bay table server or the meter system is the bay table server. By receiving the meter's request and sending meter reading data to the metering server, the meter can remotely read each usage and issue billing bills to users such as electricity, gas, and water without having to visit homes or stores. Provide a method.

That is, the present invention provides an always-on Internet access service (Always On / Dynamic ISDN: AO / DI) (hereinafter simply referred to as "AO / DI service") end user and an Internet service provider (ISP) (hereinafter, simply X.25 packets on D-channels to maintain an Integrated Service Disital Network (ISDN) (hereinafter simply referred to as "ISDN") to maintain "Always On" status between "ISPs." As a network service using a service, a small amount of data is transmitted using a constantly connected 9.6 Kbps ISDN D-channel packet link, and a large amount of data is transmitted at a speed of 64 to 128 Kbps by adding an ISDN B-channel in a circuit-switched manner.

When bandwidth is no longer needed, the B-channel is disconnected and data is transmitted over the D-channel.

That is, because low-speed data is processed through packet switching through D-channel X.25, it is possible to reduce service access time of circuit-switched network, improve network efficiency, and provide cheap and high quality data access service to many subscribers with same network resources. Can provide.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a system for providing an internet connection service to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and in particular, a meter reading system 100 and an ISDN exchange 110 of a service subscriber, as shown in the drawing, for providing a metering service. And a packet exchanger 120, a black check server 130, a gas bill settlement system 150, a power bill settlement system 160, a water bill settlement system 170, and the like.

The meter reading system 100 is installed in the subscriber's building and is a minimal device for metering usage of electricity, gas, water, and the like. The AO / DI terminal 101 and the personal computer (PC) (hereinafter, simply referred to as "PC") are the minimum devices. 102, digital meter 103.

The AO / DI terminal 101 is matched with an ISDN switch 110 and a Basic Rate Interface (BRI) (hereinafter simply referred to as "BRI"), and with the personal computer 102 an RS-232C or universal serial bus. (USB: Universal Serial Bus) (hereinafter simply referred to as "USB").

Personal computer 102 provides a PPP connection procedure as a processor that provides a blackmail service function, and uses a pre-connected Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) link (hereinafter simply referred to as "PPP"). It provides the function to send meter reading data to the metering server.

The digital meter 103 is matched with the personal computer 102 through RS-232C or USB, and measures the amount of electricity, water, gas, etc. used by the subscriber and transmits the measured amount to the personal computer 102.

In addition, the meter reading system 100 is connected to the ISDN D-channel X.25 Switched Virtual Circuit (SVC) via the ISDN switch 110 and the packet switch 120 (hereinafter simply referred to as "SVC"). And then connect.

The ISDN switch 110 provides an ISDN D-channel as a base network for transmitting meter reading data to the meter reading server 130 connected to the Internet network.

The packet switch 120 is an X.25 packet network for transmitting meter reading data to the meter row server 130 in the meter reading system 100. The packet switch 120 is interfaced with the ISDN switch 110 and X.75. Interfaced to X.25.

Meter bed row server 130 is always connected to the meter reading system 100 of the service subscriber receives and stores the meter reading data and provides the function to re-send the meter data to the billing system, and operates various subscriber information related to the service subscriber And manage.

Since the black bed row server 130 is connected to the Internet network 140, the meter reading data can be easily transmitted to the gas bill settlement system 150, the power bill settlement system 160, and the water bill settlement system 170. Subscribers can easily check the amount of electricity, water, and gas using the Internet. Alternatively, the amount of usage may be notified by e-mail.

2 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for providing a meter reading service in a meter reading system of a system for providing an internet connection service according to the present invention.

When the service processing procedure is started (201), first perform the meter reading system initialization (202) to initialize the connection settings of the AO / DI terminal, computer, digital meter, etc., phone number data setting of the server, subscriber ID, password, etc. in the metering system. do. At this time, the telephone number of the blackmail server uses the specific number of the ISDN number system based on E.164 and the specific number of the packet network number system based on X.121.

After performing system initialization (202), it connects 203 the ISDN D-channel X.25 SVC with the cluster server 130. If an error occurs during the connection process, it is possible to change to another telephone number or packet network telephone number through interaction with the user.

After the SVC connection is established, the PPP connection procedure 204 is performed to transmit and receive packet data.

Checking the network connection with the metered line server 130 (205), if the network connection is abnormal, terminates the service, performs the maintenance (206) for the meter reading system and performs the server connection procedure 202 again.

If the network connection with the meter bed server is successful, the periodic timer is set according to the gas meter reading date, the water meter reading date, the electric meter reading date, and the like (207), and then waits for the timer event or the meter reading request from the meter bed server (208).

Upon receiving a timer event or receiving a metering request from the metering server (209), the metering system stores the digital data measured by the digital meter in the buffer memory of the computer (210) and sends the metering data to the metering server ( 211) Wait for a timer event or meter reading request from the metering server.

FIG. 3 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a point-to-point protocol connection method in a meter reading system of an always-on type internet access service providing system according to the present invention.

Once the PPP connection procedure is initiated (301), a PPP link option is created (302) and configured to request a PPP Link Control Protocol (LCP) (hereinafter simply referred to as "LCP") to the cluster server 130. -Request (hereinafter referred to simply as " configuration-request ") to request link option negotiation and to wait for packet reception 304.

Upon receipt (305) of a PPP LCP Configure-Ack (hereinafter referred to simply as "configuration-check") from a cluster server, the PPP link options are negotiated and set up (306) to complete the link option negotiation and complete the packet. Wait for reception 304.

Receiving a challenge (307) of PPP Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) (hereinafter simply referred to as "CHAP") from a blackmail server to perform subscriber authentication (307) confirms the subscriber ID and password. 308 transmits (309) a PPP CHAP Response (subscriber ID and password) and waits for packet reception (304).

Upon receipt of a PPP CHAP Success (310) indicating that authentication is successful from the metering server, the metering system receives a PPP Internet Protocol Control Protocol (IPCP) (hereinafter simply "IPCP") to obtain an IP address. After the configuration-request (IP address request) is sent (311) to the cluster server, the packet reception is waited (304).

Upon receipt of the PPP IPCP configuration-verification (IP address) (312), the PPP connection procedure is terminated after setting the IP address (313).

Figure 4 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for providing a bed line service in a bed line server of the always-connected Internet access service providing system according to the present invention.

When the service processing procedure starts (401), the initialization of the cluster server 402 is first performed to initialize a database in the server.

After initializing the server (402) and establishing an ISDN D-channel X.25 SVC with the metering system (403). One X.25 SVC is set for each service subscriber. After the SVC connection is established, a PPP connection procedure 404 is performed to transmit and receive packet data.

If the network connection is abnormal by checking the network connection with the meter reading system (405), the service is terminated, and maintenance of the metering server and the metering system (406) is performed, and the connection with the meter reading system is attempted again.

If the network connection with the meter reading system is successful, the server waits for data reception from the meter reading system (407).

When the meter data 408 is received, the meter data type 409 is checked to store the meter data if the amount of electricity is used, and the IP address 410 of the electricity bill settlement system is checked to retransmit the meter data to the electricity bill settlement system. 411), and then the state transitions to the data reception state 407.

After checking the meter reading type (409), the meter reading data is stored if the water consumption is used, the IP address 412 of the water bill settlement system is checked, the meter data is retransmitted to the water bill settlement system (413), and the data reception state ( 407).

After checking the meter data type (409), if the gas consumption is stored, the meter data is stored, the IP address 414 of the gas billing system is checked, the meter data is retransmitted to the gas billing system (415), and the data reception state ( 407).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a PPP connection procedure with a meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the PPP connection procedure is started 501, it waits for packet reception 502. Receiving a PPP LCP configuration-request (link option) from the metering system (503) determines whether to accept the received link option and then negotiates (504) the PPP link option.

When the option negotiation is completed, the PPP LCP configuration-confirmation is sent to the meter reading system (505) and the PPP link option is set (506). After setting the link option, a PPP CHAP request (507) is transmitted to the meter reading system to perform subscriber authentication to request subscriber information and wait for packet reception (502).

Upon receiving 508 a PPP CHAP Response (subscriber ID and password) from the metering system, the metering server retrieves the subscriber profile using the subscriber ID and password information and processes the subscriber authentication 509. After performing subscriber authentication, PPP CHAP Success is transmitted 510 to the meter reading system and waiting for packet reception 502.

Receiving PPP IPCP configuration-request (IP address request) from metering system (511), assigning IP address (512) and sending PPP IPCP configuration-verification (IP address) to metering system (513) To exit.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, and the above-described embodiments and accompanying It is not limited to the drawing.

According to the present invention as described above, the service subscriber can check the usage at any time using the Internet, and if necessary, can receive a bill for billing through e-mail and fax. In addition, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the circuit network by transmitting and receiving data using the ISDN D-channel without using the circuit network resources. As a result, subscribers living in general stores and residential areas can be protected from visitors disguised as meter readers, while electricity, water and gas providers can measure usage without hiring meter readers, thus reducing labor costs. have.

Claims (3)

In the method of providing a meter reading service applied to the always-on Internet connection service providing system, A first step of establishing a switched virtual line connection between the meter reading device and the meter line server and performing a point-to-point protocol connection; A second step of transmitting meter reading data from the meter reading device to the meter reading server through a previously connected channel between the meter reading device and the meter reading server; And A third step of receiving the meter reading data and searching the subscriber profile of a service subscriber and transmitting the meter reading data to a corresponding billing system; Meter reading service providing method comprising a. The method of claim 1, The billing system, And at least one of a power billing system, a gas billing system, and a water billing system. In order to provide a meter reading service, always-on Internet connection service providing system having a large processor, A first function of establishing a switched virtual line connection between the meter reading device and the meter line server and performing a point-to-point protocol connection; A second function of transmitting meter reading data from the meter reading device to the meter reading server through a previously connected channel between the meter reading device and the meter reading server; And A third function of receiving the meter reading data and searching the subscriber profile of a service subscriber and transmitting the meter reading data to a corresponding billing system; A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing this.